Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right ankle disability and finds that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a right ankle disability is denied, but the TDIU claim is granted.

The veteran's appeal includes issues related to his service-connected left ankle fracture, PTSD, situational depression, and a sleep disorder. The claims for higher ratings, reopening of service connection claims, and TDIU are being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ankle scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The VA has granted service connection and assigned noncompensable disability ratings to his right knee disorder and left ankle disorder.,The veteran was granted service connection for patellofemoral syndrome with spurring posterior patella of the right knee, but no compensable rating is warranted due to lack of evidence of malunion or nonunion of the tibia and fibula. The VA has also granted service connection for patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative space narrowing of the left knee.,The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. He was granted service connection for patellofemoral syndrome with spurring posterior patella of the right knee, but no compensable rating is warranted due to lack of evidence of malunion or nonunion of the tibia and fibula.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed, including medical records from the Naval base at Port Hueneme and VA examinations for hearing loss, psychiatric conditions, and left ankle disability. The case will be remanded to allow these actions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected right ankle disorder and PTSD, as well as his claim for a TDIU. The right ankle disorder is rated at 10 percent, while PTSD is rated at 50 percent in combination with other disabilities. The combined rating does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran is service-connected for multiple disabilities, including a right shoulder disability rated at 40 percent disabling. The combined rating of his service-connected disabilities is 90 percent, meeting the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for sinusitis with headaches and residuals of a left ankle injury are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. Additional VA examinations will be conducted, and the case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, lumbosacral spine, and cervical spine disorders. The claim for right knee disorder is pending as it may be related to a pre-existing condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are denied. The VA examinations will be scheduled to address his hypertension, right knee disability, and bilateral foot disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently does not have residuals of a right ankle fracture and tinnitus did not start during his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination. The appellant's representative seeks to reframe his claim as service connection for a spine condition but this is not addressed in the decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial higher ratings for his right ankle disability, low back disability (orthopedic manifestations), and neurological manifestations of the low back disability. The TDIU rating claim is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for service connection can be decided.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle disability and donor site scar, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The right ankle disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, while the donor site scar has no compensable rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The specific issues of service connection are still pending.

The veteran's left ankle sprain is currently rated at the noncompensable level.,The veteran's status post vasectomy with vasovasectomy and orchipexy secondary to a retractable right testicle was properly rated at the 10 percent level from March 1996.,The veteran's L5 nerve root irritation with a history of lumbosacral strain and narrowing of L4-L5 is currently rated at the 20 percent level, effective March 1996. The appeal for an increased rating remains denied.,The veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder was properly rated at the noncompensable level.

The RO denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected left knee disability and secondary service connection claims for various disabilities.,The RO found no medical evidence supporting a nexus between the veteran's service-connected left knee disability and his claimed disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension (secondary to diabetes mellitus), right foot injury, right ankle injury, right hip injury, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral vision loss.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining additional VA medical records and providing him with VCAA notice regarding disability ratings and effective dates.